This shouldn't have to be said -- folks, if you find yourself seriously tempted to send an angry message to a player, don't. It won't help them and it won't make you feel any better either. Enjoy the wins, let go of the losses.

If being a fan makes you miserable, you're allowed to just not be a fan for a while. Go ahead, leave the party. Just be discrete about it. If you can avoid making an idiot of yourself on the way out, we'll almost certainly let you back in when the team starts winning again.

Unfortunately, I don't think this is "new." Appalling? Yes. But this is the new reality with Twitter and other various social sites. Exhibit #1A was LeBron circa 2010 (The Decision) and 2011 (loss to Mavs).

Wow, you gave up your tickets for that? I agree Navarre was treated poorly, and undeservedly so, but that's what happens with large groups of fans - some of them will suck and/or be idiots. Not saying you need to get season seats again, but you should come back to the Big House - it's a pretty fun place. And looks way different than when you were there before.

I just don't get it. Most of the same people who send hate mail or tweet to him aren't going to say it to his face. It's like being the drunk person who doesn't know how to shut up or, I guess got the "liquid courage" to say mean things to a person's face.

I dunno, ND fans are about the worst of the bunch (see: treatment of Tommy Rees) and they don't have too much trouble recruiting. I get your point, but I'm guessing stuff like this is pretty low on a recruit's radar compared to facilities, coaching staff, academics, etc.

It's probably no one who regularly posts on this site. Despite the out of control emotions and difference of opinions most people are level headed and frankly not that stupid.

I will say the advent Twitter, comments on articles, basically any medium for more people to express their opinions makes me realize how stupid and ignorant most people are. It's truly astounding. You'd think having people having their personal facebook accounts tied to their comments would change that but not a chance.

Carlin said it best

“Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!”

But is anyone shocked? Just look at the boards. And you wonder why they don't give a damn what fans think and don't cater to them in press conferences. Electronic media, in person....

Ross said the players were motivated by the boos, particularly after halftime commentary from senior tackle and co-captain Taylor Lewan. “Honestly, I think that motivated us,” Ross said. “It made us come together. We realized that we’re all we got. We’re a family in this locker room, regardless how the fans feel. We know we’re going to come out and give everything we got for the man next to us, and we can’t expect anyone to give anything to us. We realize that it’s all about us in this locker room. That’s the only ones who are going to have each other’s back through the worst times and the best times.”

Though the Bronx cheer that came after the 1st 1st down probably wasn't really distinguishable. But players see coaches as part of the team, not a separate entity. And they see fans as the guys who want to be their friend when they're winning but will turn on a dime and throw them under the bus as soon as things turn south.

To be fair, I would hope no one is booing the players themselves, but more so the play calling

I think the majority of the booing was for the playcalling, but there definitely were people in my section booing Gardner specifically. (Some avoided any ambiguity by shouting rude things at him in between boos.)

I've never seen any good evidence of any hate- speech directed at the individual members of the Fab Five. There was no Twitter; no Facebook. No blogs of any kind. There may have been paper snail-mail, presumably sent to 1000 South State Street. Has any reporter ever been given access to any such letters? Has anybody ever counted them? Identified the authors?

The current kerfuffle is over hateful comments made (anonymously?!?) on Twitter. Has anyone sent user-identifiable email to Devin?

I heard Michigan-dad Bernie Smilovitz mention "hate mail" and "threats" sent to Devin. Is that factual reporting? "Threats"?!?

This is the umpteenth time I get to denounce Twitter as an asinine, juvenile cesspool of pseudo-communication, that is nothing but a nuisance in the world of college football administration.

This is a comprehensively unserious story on about three different levels.

Did you watch the Fab Five documentary? The letter were shown in the movie.

As for your opinion of Twitter - just like any useful device, people can misuse and abuse it. It's also incredibly useful when used properly. Anything that provides information can be good and bad. You could make the same claim about a phonebook. "If it weren't for phonebooks, no one would be able to make prank phone calls."

And as I recall it, there was one letter seen; I think it was a kind of a re-creation. That part of the film was devoid of any specific reporting. I got the impression that a small handful of people wrote letters to the Athletic Department, not the players, in which the writers complained about the sort of image the Fab Five was presenting.

at any of the players. It's classless and will only make things worse for everyone. These kids work incredibly hard, are very competitive, and never want to fail or let anyone down. It's a sad commentary on society that grown adults have let their irrational attachment to sporting event outcomes override their ability to act like decent human beings.

On many levels, that article is pretty depressing. It seems to me that when you are at a point where tweeting or mailing hateful things to a kid that is still in college and playing for the team that you cheer each weekend, then it might be time to pick up a good book and unplug the televisions and stay away from the stadium for a while.

I did like what he said though, and it sounds like he's been a good leader of the team through all this:

"I just think like, 'Man, it (stinks) you feel this way,' but I really can't do anything about it," Gardner said. "I'm not going to get into a banter on the Internet."

DG has been a warrior the last few games, the thought of UM fans sending hate mail to him or any other players is sad. We can be angry after loses and complain on Mgoblog but reaching out to players is unacceptable.

What's been said on twitter is nothing new, and is unfortunately to be expected.
I know I'm in the minority on this, but as a lifelong die hard, I do take exception to Gardner's response. The team is losing games they shouldn't be and he's worried about twitter. This happens every day, and has for years. Albeit the methods have evolved with technology. The Fab 5 dealt with it, do did Roger Maris, and Hank Aaron. It comes with the territory.

As the quarterback and leader of the team, you're the one who shoulders the burden when expectations are not met.
There's one way to shut these idiots/ internet tough guys/ twitter haters up, and that's winning.

Ultimately, I think the fan base is most disappointed with the product. Were all invested in the program in one way or another. We have not seen a return on our investment.
There's a lot of lip service and company lines coming out of Ft. Schembechler, but no leadership or accountability.

I think the tweets were fucked up, but I also think Gardner needs to get his priorities in order.

The players work ridiculous hours, all while going to school, get the hell beat out of them on a weekly basis, get abused by total strangers, and dedicate their lives to the game...but because you buy a ticket for $75 (or more likely, flip your tv channel for 3.5 hours), it's YOU who is invested in the program enough to expect a return on your "investment."

I'm familiar with both the sacrifice and benefits that come with being a college athlete. He was not forced to play college football at this level. His priorities are clear cut, school then football. He's in grad school. By all accounts he's taking care of things on that end. On the gridiron, not so much. I'd be a fool to think that the offensive woes are all on him. Do I think, he's done everything possible off the field to be the best quarterback he possibly could be? Hell no. I'm sure that some of that twitter or tinder time would have been better spent in the film room.

How dare he use his free time to do anything other than what I have deemed appropriate?!?!?! And while we're at it, I don't think he should be able to watch TV, play video games, or actually live the life of a normal human being. Dance for my amusement!

I am sorry, but that is crazy. I don't have twitter, so I don't tweet or whatever you call it. However, I think that sending or reading a tweet takes about 30 seconds. I also know that they come to your phone whether you what them or not.

Are you really taking the position that he needs to get rid of his cell phone and focus on being the best quarterback he possible can be? Can he watch TV, listen to the radio and go on dates too, or is that off limits? If he doesn't, does that mean that he deserves the hate mail he gets?

I have, from time to time, made a post or two that I though was reasonable at first, only to realize that it made no darn sense at all. I think that may have happened to you. Generally, those who say, "Yeah, sorry. That made no damn sense, forget it" are quickly forgiven.

Devin hasn't dealt with this even though it has been going on for a long time. It's new to him since, you know, he isn't remembering his former life as Jackie Robinson. It's a normal response to be upset from this stuff. He might be the QB but he is still human and even if he didn't respond to this stuff publicly he'd be dealing with it in private. Does it really matter which one he does? His priorities are that he needs to go to school, which I believe he's in grad school now (WTG!), and work hard on his craft. Nobody deserves this shit when they aren't getting paid (yeah, yeah. Free education and all. Whatthefuckever).

Did you read the article? Gardner is handling this hate mail perfectly as far as I can tell: understanding "its nothing new" (which seems to be your main point) and then ignoring it. How are his priorities out of order? You must believe he's working as hard as he can to get wins for Michigan, yes? So that's his priority. Maybe also representing Michigan with class, which he seems to be doing a great job at.

With all due respect, this comment "aint worth a damn" in the words of my good friend Ricky Bobby. Playing college sports on this level is a job. They work hard and whether it produces wins or not, they deserve leisure time as well. He has a life outside of his job just like you do. I dont know about you but I work 11-12 long hours a day and i'll be damned if somebody is telling me how to spend my leisure time after I get off. Win or lose, they aren't machines.

Man, this is seriously gross. I understand the need to get involved in something to take away from your day to day life. Life sucks a lot of the time for most people. Crappy jobs, crappy bosses, crappy spouses. Taking your real life frustrations out on something that you 1. have no control over and 2. couldn't make a significant difference if you were involved in it just doesn't make any sense. It's cool to get upset about the losses. I am upset but why the need to spread those feelings of anger towards the players?

I'll never really get it. I have family who are like this and when we talk Michigan they talk about wanting Dave Brandon and everyone below him fired. I just zone out during those times and then make up an excuse to get off the phone. Get to the root of your problem, people who are doing this. Your life is fucking miserable and instead of taking it out on people who play a game it's time to hunker down and figure out how to make your life a happy one. People who are happy with their lives wouldn't posses the ability to do this shit. This will always happen, though. Really pathetic. Really pathetic.

The negativity around here (especially the last couple weeks) has been far more embarrassing to me than anything that's happened on the field. I find myself not wanting to be associated with the program because of the fan base.

That is absolutely sick (in the bad way in case it needs to be said). Writing to the coaches and Dave Brandon is one thing though even there civility should be maintained because if people are obnoxious their sentiments will be ignored anyway.

Writing to the student athletes directly is just wrong unless maybe you are trying to be positive but even then do you really need to write to them directly?

It doesn't make sense to send hate mail. It doesn't matter if they are pro or not. It's just a game. However, these kids are being paid and better play hard. There are athletes on this team that will not contribute to one single victory, but will still receive over 250,000.00 dollars. This talk about college athletes not being paid is dumb.

I just saw the Daily article about this, and they're posting some of the tweets, with account owners' names and avatars. I am truly embarrassed for these people, whether they're Michigan fans or not. These people are the lowest part of society - the uneducated, the moronic, the imbeciles who deserve to be cast out. I hope they all get some kind of retribution for this.